I am, admittedly, a huge hypochondriac. It’s an annoying habit I picked up from my dad that I can’t seem to shake, and it actually might be getting worse as I get older. For instance, my best friend reads all my medication warnings for me so that someone knows, because I would manifest every single symptom listed if I read them myself.
But even with my level of health-related paranoia, I had no idea that there were so many subtle signs of illness that we all may be ignoring on a daily basis. They might seem harmless, but studies have shown that there could be something much worse lurking behind each one of these little clues.
1. Tall Ladies
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Women taller than a petite 5’2″ might be missing a gene which allows their shorter friends to live up to age 100.
2. Arm Length
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Women with an arm span of less than 60 inches have shown to be 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Stocky Legs
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Ladies with shorter legs may have issues with liver problems due to a heightened level of enzymes that indicate liver disease.
4. Finger Length
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Women whose index fingers are shorter than their ring fingers are potentially two times more likely to develop osteoarthritis in their knees due to lower estrogen levels.
5. Bra Size
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Women who graduate to the big D cup by age 20 could be 1.5 times more likely to develop diabetes.
6. Ear Lobes
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Spotting wrinkles is never fun, but if you find them on one or both of your ears, it could indicate or even predict cardiovascular events.
7. Big Bellies
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Adults with larger stomachs in their 40s, even if they’re at a healthy weight, are 3.6 times more likely to develop dementia.
8. Blood Type
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Studies have shown those with A, B, and AB blood types are 44% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those with type O.
9. Always Sleepy
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Constant fatigue might indicate a hormonal imbalance in your thyroid, or even show signs of higher levels of stress-induced cortisol.
10. Snoring
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Other than annoying your bed buddies, it could be a sign of sleep apnea — a breathing disorder which puts you at risk for heart failure.
11. Chapped Lips
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Chronically cracking lips, especially around the edges, could be caused by deficient levels of vitamin B.
12. Shrinking With Age
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If you notice things on the top shelf getting harder to reach as you get older, it could be a sign of osteoporosis, which could lead to hip fractures and humpbacks. Grab some calcium and vitamin D!
13. Sense of Smell
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Older adults who are unable to identify the smells of bananas, lemon, cinnamon, and other pungent fragrances are five times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease within five years.
14. Itchy Skin
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Other than allergies and irritating conditions like eczema, scratchy skin can be a symptom of liver disease.
15. Dark Urine
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Your number ones are supposed to be nice and clear, so if you’re seeing some bright or dark hues when you flush, it’s time for you to grab a nice glass of water.
(via Prevention, MindBodyGreen)
Now…if you’ll excuse me, I have about 10 doctors’ appointments I need to make…or at least all the ones my bestie says aren’t just me being crazy. Hey, it’s better to be safe than sorry.